Gaming tips and tricks

TOP 10 GAMING TIPS AND TRICKS FROM THE PROS

Gaming tips and tricks

 

 

Top 10 Gaming Tips and Tricks from the Pros

 

Gaming's popularity continues to grow as people from different walks of life enjoy playing games as both a hobby and a profession. Not only that, but there are so many different types of games to play now, too. From casual smartphone experiences to deeply immersive role-playing games to sweat-inducing battle royales, there are almost too many genres to name.

 

For those who want the best possible experience, particularly those who take gaming seriously, PC gaming is the gold standard. If you want to know how to improve your overall PC gaming experience, we've got a number of tips and tricks to get you there.

 

What to know about PC gaming

In many ways, PC gaming is the pinnacle of the gaming experience. Unlike consoles, where graphics are set to the specifications of the hardware, PC gaming offers more opportunities to fine-tune your experience; whether you're upgrading your hardware to enjoy higher framerates or downloading mods. The console experience is more static, you can't upgrade the graphics or modify the game in the majority of cases unless you buy the next-generation console.

 

This is why many people are attracted to PC gaming. While it's a bigger upfront expense, it's worth it for dedicated gamers. You also need to make sure you have the right accessories to go with your PC. Without a great gaming mouse, display, and more, you won't get to fully utilize the power of your gaming PC.

 

Top 10 gaming tips and tricks

There's a lot to know about PC gaming; how to start, what to focus on, when to think about going pro. We've got your back. From clearly defining the types of games you want to specialize in, to creating a community around the games you play, here are 10 tips and tricks from the pros for getting better at PC gaming.

 

1. Define your gaming goals

No one has the time to be a pro at every game. If you want to go pro, or just be one of the best, pick your specialty by sticking with a genre and a handful of games that you like to play. For example, if you're into fighting games, dive into the Street Fighter and Tekken series. Alternatively, if you're a big fan of first-person shooters, go for games like Call of Duty, Apex Legends, and Overwatch.

 

By narrowing your scope, you can cultivate an appreciation for the genre and also develop your tactical skills and reflexes in particular games. Additionally, specializing allows you to connect with the community around those games to foster relationships that extend far beyond the game itself.

 

2. Level up with a new gaming PC

Once you decide on your preferred genre, it may be time to upgrade your gaming PC to a model that taps into the strength of that genre.

 

For example, if you want to specialize in first-person shooters or racing games, you need to make sure that your graphics card can handle a higher refresh rate with little or no lag time. After all, a split second can be the difference between a win or a loss.

 

If you want to play open-world or sandbox games, then you'll want to beef up your RAM to keep you exploring new vistas without glitching.

 

 

 
3. Choose your competition wisely

Sports legends like Michael Jordan weren’t measured by their ability to rack up easy wins against inferior teams. Instead, Jordan is most remembered by fans for his ability to overcome the NBA’s top teams during competitive playoff games. As Jordan fell short of his championship goals in the early days of his career against superior teams, his skill increased through facing and learning his opponents' ways, which eventually led to six NBA championships.

 

The same idea can apply to gamers, as playing against skilled opponents will elevate your overall gaming practices. Facing off against skilled opponents is not only productive; it's more engaging as your abilities are tested more rigorously.

 

Competition defines video games' history and the current state of gaming as video game tournaments offering cash prizes and other perks are becoming increasingly popular.

 

While there’s nothing wrong with playing a casual game with a less-skilled friend or occasionally lowering the difficulty of computer-programmed opponents, facing off against skillful gamers will help you grow at a faster rate. If you're stressed by the challenges that tough competition presents, it can help to think of these experiences as a form of mentorship that will influence and improve how you play in the future.

 

 

4. Select the right gear

The gear you choose goes a long way in fostering your success as a gamer. As a gamer, you’re most likely going to be in a seated position, so selecting a chair that’s both comfortable and supports healthy habits like good posture will help you go the distance during long gaming sessions.

 

A stable internet connection is an essential component of modern gaming. Connecting to the internet allows you to play alongside and communicate with gamers all over the world. Making the most of modern gaming requires an exceptional internet setup, so you don't lag out of fun and competitive moments in your favorite games.

 

Controllers, keyboards, monitors, and TV units will be a defining factor of how enjoyable your gaming experience is. Wireless controllers, keyboards, and mouses offer more flexibility, but they can occasionally result in a delay as the wireless technology attempts to communicate with the devices it's linked to. Choosing wired accessories is a reliable way to solidify your connection and reduce the chance any latency or buffering (because no one wants that when you’re about to beat the Final Boss).

 
5. Establish goals

Establishing goals is a helpful way to monitor your progress as you set out to become a better gamer. It might be easy to only focus on those lofty, long-term goals, but listing out achievable short-term goals is a great way to measure your progress actively. Think of your short-term goals as stepping stones to that larger goal. 

A great first step is to realistically evaluate your current status as a gamer is a great place to start as it'll help you see how far you need to travel to reach your end goal. Leaderboards and rankings are excellent resources that help you discover where you stack up with your competition.

 

6. Buy a proper gaming mouse

As part of your quest to reach your full potential as a PC gamer, you need a few other tools to complete your kit. Beyond the display and PC itself, you need a proper gaming mouse. This provides you with more precision and control over your character as you make split-second decisions.

 

HP® has two great options for this: the OMEN by HP Reactor Mouse and the OMEN by HP Vector Mouse. Both can help improve your PC gaming skills, but if you really want to level up, go with the Photon. It offers more programmable buttons and sensitivity levels so you can fully customize your experience.

 

7. Follow your favorite streamers

Once you have your preferred genre narrowed down, it's time to connect with like-minded people and find your favorite personalities on Twitch and other streaming platforms. It's easy to pop into these platforms and find streamers of all kinds playing games in every genre, though the biggest names tend to stick to the more popular, current games.

 

One place to get started is HP's very own streaming group, the HP OMEN Squad. The Squad specializes in various game genres and is home to plenty of engaging personalities. You'll find them playing Over watch, the latest battle royals, and much more.

 

8. Take care of your body and mind

It'll be challenging to meet your PC gaming goals if you throw out your back or get tendonitis in your elbows. To combat this, it's important that you're conscious of your body position when gaming. Consider everything from your posture to the length of play sessions.

 

To avoid causing damage to yourself from long gaming sessions, it's wise to invest in a quality gaming chair. Make sure that it has lumbar support, hard armrests for taking breaks, and a recline function. This will help you to relax and rest your body. And be sure to take adequate breaks in between rounds of gameplay.

 

9. Cool your PC properly

If you don't properly cool your PC, the hot air within the system can cause the components to overheat, which will shorten their lifespan. If you don't want to have to buy a new gaming PC anytime soon, then it's important to keep the tower away from heating vents or sunny windows in your home or apartment.

 

You'll also want to clean out dust and debris from your system's fan regularly and make sure the tower case is properly enclosed at all times. Taking these steps will save you a lot of headaches and cash down the line, so it's best to take these steps now to ensure that your gaming PC is properly cooled.

 
10. Set up your space and take breaks

It's ideal to have a dedicated gaming space in your home or apartment, although this depends on your living situation. Doing so will allow you to associate that space with gaming, so you can live your life outside of it and regularly take breaks.

 

Your gaming space should include a gaming chair, a dedicated desk for your PC, and anything else you may want to show off your personality. Do you have decorations and paraphernalia related to your favourite games? Install shelves above your gaming rig to show them off and make it truly feel like a gamer's paradise.